Life on the home front
By Richard Bryant, Lindfield History Project Group
The war had a dramatic effect on every aspect of life on the Home Front from shortages to bombing. As the threat of war increased, from 1937 Government started implementing precautions to protect the Home Front. Air raid precautions featured heavily as there was strong expectation an air bombardment by high explosives, incendiaries and gas would commence immediately on the declaration of war.
Volunteer Air Raid Precaution wardens were recruited in every community and gas masks issued. The months following September 1939 were quiet and called the ‘Phoney War’, as aerial battles and bombardment did not occur until 1940. The Lindfield ARP wardens were on duty night and day from the outset with one of their main duties being to enforce the blackout to ensure no light was emitted from any building. The street lights were turned off and vehicle lights restricted and darkness descended. The ARP wardens established posts around the village, the main ones being at King Edward Hall and the Tiger where the wardens slept overnight in the cellar and an ambulance was kept in a garage at the rear.
Early in 1940 British troops started to be stationed in Lindfield, followed a year later by a large contingent of Canadians. The village quickly turned into an army base. A large camp was established at Paxhill for about 1,800 soldiers and a considerable number of properties around the village, ranging from Old Place to semis in Backwoods Lane, were requisitioned for military use. The army units regularly changed and there was a large build-up of stores and equipment around the village in preparation for D-Day. On 29th February 1944 several thousand troops assembled on the Common to be addressed by General Montgomery, an event witnessed at a distance by most of the residents. The military presence in Lindfield was much reduced after the invasion of Europe.
Returning to earlier in the conflict, following Dunkirk the country was vulnerable with invasion expected in mid-September 1940. A volunteer home defence force was quickly recruited and the Home Guard, Lindfield Company, established their headquarters in the barn behind the Red Lion. The Scaynes Hill Company used the Anchor Inn (now The Farmers). Both were tasked in the event of an invasion to defend the Ouse, as the river had been designated ‘a stop line’ to hinder a German advance. The northern bank was revetted (made vertical with trees, timbers and wattles) to impede tanks and vehicles attempting to cross. Strategically positioned pill boxes and other defences were constructed to defend the bridges. Each night Lindfield Home Guard manned the Lindfield Bridge pill box; it was described as ‘very comfortable and homely’. When eventually equipped with Lee Enfield rifles each man was given ten rounds, ‘enough to kill 12 enemy: 10 with bullets, one with the bayonet and the last with the butt’. An anti-tank gun was not received until late in the war. Thankfully, the All Saints bells never rang to signal an invasion!
From May 1940 aerial battles in the skies over Lindfield were a common occurrence, especially during the Battle of Britain. Observing the ‘dog fights’, although dangerous, was popular with village children and the Common provided a good vantage point. A schoolboy at the time recalled being on the Common and ‘hearing loud sizzling noise as the hot metal of spent bullets lay on the damp grass’. Any Allied or German aircraft crashing in the vicinity acted as a magnet to boys and girls who would rush on their bikes to view the aircraft and hopefully collect souvenirs from the debris.
On 25th October 1940, during a routine patrol, a Hurricane suffered engine failure and made a forced landing at Haywards Heath Golf Club. The uninjured pilot escaped the damaged aircraft and a minor fire ensued. Village children arrived before the police and fire brigade and stood on a bunker watching as the fire took hold setting off the machine guns. The bullets went into the bunker just beneath their feet. A narrow escape. Sadly two brothers living at Walstead were not so lucky. While out playing they found a shell, and on taking it home it exploded. Tragically both were killed.
The threat of bombing increased from 1940 and the sound of the air raid siren became a feature of everyday life; the most was eight times in one day. Despite numerous warnings, thankfully Lindfield escaped any bombing casualties or significant damage. A stick of five bombs fell in the land off Backwoods Lane (now the nature reserve). Others fell at Paxhill and near Buxshalls. Lindfield did not have any public air raid shelters, although the cellars of Masters (Co-op site) and today’s Martin’s shops were designated as shelters during shop opening hours. The school and some households created their own shelters or ‘safe place’. After a time, with so many warnings being false alarms, life generally carried on as usual. At school, if a threat sounded imminent, on the command ‘rabbits’ children dived under their iron framed box topped desks for protection. All Saints built an emergency exit with a staircase in the South Chapel.
After D-Day, V1 flying bombs arrived in the sky over Lindfield causing much consternation, for when their rasping engine noise stopped it signified the bomb was about to fall to the ground and explode. Fifteen V1s fell in the Lindfield area. One was attacked by a Spitfire over Lindfield Common and hit the ground near Franklands Village causing extensive minor property damage but without casualties.
There was a brighter side to life for, despite blackouts, air raid sirens and shortages, a social scene thrived with many varied events being organised, usually to raise money for war related causes. These included national events such as Salute the Soldier, Fund a Spitfire and Warship Week, with each community being set a funding target. The Salute the Soldier target for Lindfield was £7,000. The entertainments ranged from concerts and plays to demonstrations of battle drill by the Home Guard, exhibition billiard matches and musical entertainments, plus the inevitable whist drives. In January 1940 the Lindfield and Scaynes Hill Royal British Legion held its first annual Rabbit Pie Supper in a decorated King Edward Hall. The Mid Sussex Times reported that, in spite of war casting a shadow, 180 attended and the ‘atmosphere was one of great joviality’ and ‘in addition to rabbit pies, Christmas puddings and other food, there was no lack of liquid refreshments and cigarettes’. Rabbits were a useful supplement to the meat ration.
Without doubt the weekly ‘penny hop’ dances in King Edward Hall were the most popular entertainment for young women and both British and Canadian soldiers. Recalled with fondness, these were generally regarded as the best in the area, with young women travelling by bus or bicycle from Haywards Heath and nearby villages to attend. The Rhythm Kings was the most popular band. Four young women from the village later became Canadian war brides.
Not unsurprisingly major annual events like the August Fair and Bonfire Night celebrations were not held during the war. Likewise the village sporting clubs suspended organised sport, although golf remained available at High Beeches albeit over only ten holes, the others having been put to the plough in support for ‘Dig for Victory’. The British spirit prevailed and the best was made of these difficult years. If you have any photographs of Canadian soldiers in Lindfield, please get in touch.
Contact Lindfield History Project Group on 01444 482136 or visit https://lindfieldhistoryproject.group/ for more information.